Infamous 2: Simply Electrifying

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Apparently, everything from the first game just got better.

By David Clayman

If you played the first game, you already know Infamous 2 is going to be a lot of fun. The premise hasn't changed, and Cole's superpowers have only grown in strength. What's different about the sequel is a whole new level of presentation that makes combat throughout the city feel that much more intense.

The demo I got my hands on was the same as what was shown off at PAX, except this time I got to take hold of the controller for myself. Set among trees and a swamp, I was thrust into combat against foes armed with rocket launchers and turrets that were popping shots at me from wooden towers.

A few lightning grenades blasted these raised encampments to splinters. The rain of debris was impressive, but not as attention grabbing as a truck that I completely demolished. Clearly there has been a lot more work put into making the environments destructible.

But what really caught my eye was the new look of melee combat. Getting in close to an enemy draws the camera in close for a cinematic view of Cole's handiwork. With a touch of slow motion and the right angles, it really shows off the new animations. It's clear that while the first Infamous had a cartoony comic feel to it, this one is going for gritty action based more on film.

The end of the demo was a battle against a burrowing monster that put up much more of a fight than the human enemies. It charged, dug through the ground, and spewed bile at Cole from a distance making quick dodges very necessary. It was definitely more challenging for the hero, but in the end I triumphed. Clearly Infamous 2 is upping the ante in every way possible.